What do you LOVE to do?
Meaning, what do you thoroughly enjoy putting your time and energy into? What brings you a sense of pleasure and purpose in life? Is there a skill, craft, or ability that makes you think I was made for THIS!? Whatever that is for you, keep it in mind as we continue…
I was only twenty when a life shaping conversation took place. The question was posed to my husband and I:
In what ways do you see yourselves serving the church?
Anyone who knows me now probably assumes my answer was, “By leading worship.”
Nope. I offered to clean toilets.
“Do you WANT to clean toilets?” the pastor asked suspiciously.
Before I could answer, my husband interjected, “First, let me tell you that she is a gifted singer. But she thinks that serving God means doing something she doesn’t enjoy.”
Knee-jerk reaction: a slug in the arm.
The conversation proceeded to expose my poor theology and also shaped my future ministry. (P.S. thank you, Hubby, for rescuing me from a life of janitorial duty.)
Singing. That’s my love. This passion took me into the performing arts at an early age and the stage became a familiar place for me. Though I was shy and timid in personality something of confidence took over in front of a microphone. It was my happy place.
Later, however, once I began journeying with the Lord, I shrank back from the spotlight that accompanies the stage. What my husband said was true, I thought that in order for my service to be regarded by the Lord it needed to feel hard, feel like work, feel like sacrifice. I needed to feel its cost, not its joy.
Thus my lay-down-my-life answer to this pastor’s continuing inquiry..
“Yes I can sing. But I’m done serving on a platform. I’m ready to serve behind the scenes by cleaning toilets!” I declared.
I appreciate that this man didn’t just leap at the chance to put me to work!
To my benefit, he cared more about shepherding my heart than putting me to work. “I think you will serve best in doing what you love most,” this pastor wisely counseled.
Under this man’s leadership I grew and flourished as a worship pastor, with the freedom to serve with – and enjoy – the gifts God had already placed in my heart. If you have a leader offering this kind of encouragement then count yourself blessed!
Few things are more beautiful than watching people do what they love to do! And few things are less inspiring than a person stuck doing something they really don’t like. The gap couldn’t be wider.
Companies, ministries, and the world in general benefit when individuals are placed in positions where they get to do what they enjoy. People doing what they love don’t have to be poked and prodded every step of the way; they naturally critique their own work, desiring to excel at what they do. We’ve all experienced the difference between a good teacher and a poor teacher, a thoughtful waiter and a careless waiter, a quality worker versus a lazy one – the difference being: heart, passion, conviction, and enthusiasm.
Perhaps this is why Peter encourages believers in Christ to use their gifts to serve one another…
God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 4:10-11 NLT
In this passage we see:
- God gives every believer a gift.
- That gift is intended to serve others.
- God will supply the strength and energy needed to use that gift well.
- THEN everything the believer does brings glory to God through Jesus Christ!
Such an incredible promise should fill us with great inspiration and confidence!
It seems humorous to reflect on a conversation about leading worship versus scrubbing toilets, but not because one is more valuable than the other; both are necessary and both honor God. The error in my thinking was to presume that GOD – the God who gives the gifts that supernaturally equip us for good works – would tell us to do something other than what we’re gifted at, just so it feels hard and sacrificial. This is not the God of the Bible. God is not more honored or more pleased with our service when the labor is difficult; neither is our service tainted because we experience personal gratification in it.
A person serving others by doing what they were made to do, relying on the Father’s power to do it well – there is nothing more honoring to the Creator or more joyful for the believer! God is not anti-joy. Quite the opposite – He is all about fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11)! Our delight in God should give birth to gifts and desires and that ought to fill us with great joy because these good things are not only evidence of our salvation but also give us an opportunity to experience His supernatural power working in (and through) us!
Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
Philippians 2:12-13 NLT
So, friends, what do YOU love to do? Is it possible that God has given you that specific ability, talent, and desire as a gift to serve others? If so, may I encourage you in the same way my dear pastor did so many years ago, “I think you will serve best by doing what you love most.”
I wish I could hear every one of your responses! If you have a moment leave me a comment and share your thoughts!
If you enjoyed this article then feel free to share on social media so that others can be encouraged as well!
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Niki Schemanski is a wife of eighteen years, homeschooling mother of three children, and part-time doula. Her love of singing led to nation-wide travel and performance as a teenager. Later in life, that passion was joined with a love for Jesus and she became a worship pastor, a role she has served in both professionally and voluntarily for sixteen years. She and her family reside in Durango, Colorado. (Read More: About The Author)
How funny we often have such a similar perspective on things! I was with you on living under the idea that if I’m being obedient and serving God it must be difficult and it didn’t matter if I enjoyed it or not. My job was simply to be obedient and serve. How sweet that our Father is not that way! He puts desires in our hearts and He says delight in me! For me it was so sweet when God opened the door, asking, “do you enjoy fitness? Then go lead others to me through the freedom of moving their bodies in joy and pointing them to their creator!” And even sweeter that often He works in assignments and seasons. I may be a fitness teacher Gospel preacher in this season but He has more ‘get to’s’ for me on the horizon!
So thankful you get to use your voice to lead others in worshipping Jesus!
I love what you said about God giving specific assignments and seasons… it’s not always a “once and for” commitment (those scare me!) Your heart for the Lord is so evident in everything you do, Bailey. I love how God has combined your love for him with your passion for fitness ~ that’s a pretty dynamic duo!
Good stuff. I also think that even when we are serving where we love there are plenty of “toilet scrubbing” moments. For worship that might be organizing endless sheets of music left out by others, or clearing and resetting the stage after a wedding. Or dealing with hard to love people. Even doing what we love God provides moments of humble serving that are a part of the package and used to refine and shape us. For me personally there have been areas that I enjoy and even feel like I am good at and God hashad to remind me to submit to others when I feel like I know a better way to do it. (Toilet flushing: it’s not about me!) “Use them well to serve one another” is a great reminder to me on that note! Thanks for sharing that. A very timely reminder to a current place I have been asked to serve!!
Yes, Tara! So good. Anything we put our time and energy into will feel like work at times (and like you said, have it’s “toilet scrubbing” moments) but the work definitely seems easier, or more purposeful, when it’s something we love! But I agree, the reminder from Peter that our gifts are meant to serve on another is always a necessary and good reminder when our perspective gets skewed. Thanks for your added insights, so valuable!
Beautifully written Niki! Not only a wonderful reminder for all of us adults but also a great teaching for our children ❤️
Thank you, Tobia… because of your comment I shared this post with my kiddos and had a great discussion about this whole subject. Thanks for the nudging there!
Always love to hear your stories and your spiritual growth! I can truly relate to this post. It can also be a struggle when what we “love to do” doesn’t always look like it has eternal value…in the short term. But doing what we love awakens us and produces abundant life that influences the world around us. People are drawn to that regardless. Just think of the joy it brings our Heavenly Father to watch us using the gifts He designed for us!
Exactly. I couldn’t help but think of you when writing this post because I know we’ve both questioned the “eternal value” of such things as painting furniture, decorating, etc. etc. But what you said is true… people are drawn to things that exude life and joy and creativity! Your home has ALWAYS been a place of life for me, personally, and I’m sure that’s true for anyone else who’s had the pleasure of stepping into that zone of giftedness in you. I may write a followup post about taking our gifts “out of the box”, meaning thinking outside of the typical ministry/church boxes we so often pidgeon hole ourselves in. That’s what you’ve done with your gifts and I am continually inspired by it!